Chapter 1: Discoveries and Secrets.

The word demon reminds us of all that is evil, for some it brings forth images of the devil himself. For Byakuya Kuchiki, the word struck the greatest amount of fear he had ever faced before into his heart. The god lost his mortal wife many years ago to a demon of guilt; she blamed herself for letting her younger sister fall into the hands of poverty whilst she was treated as her husband was, if not better. The young god, stricken with grief, vowed to never love again. And he hasn't, Byakuya has let no other woman into his heart, except for Rukia.

Almost a year after Hisana's death, Byakuya found his dearest's sister. She was a child of many sorrows, loosing her friends to disease and starvation, never knowing the love of parents or the stability of having a roof over her head every night. Rukia was only nine when a flood swept through her tiny village, many died and with so few people able to take their attention off their sick or dying loved ones, bodies littered the streets. She had been smart and followed her cat, Kon. He had sensed danger and ran to higher ground. When she returned to the village she knew all her friends were gone, no one greeted her and when she saw a mass of ruby red hair sticking out from under a collapsed building she knew her best friend, Renji, was gone.

Tears streamed down her face as she ran. She didn't want to believe it, though she knew it was true. But she did not run from the truth, she ran from the stench and the depression her village held. The woods guaranteed a relief from the smell of rotting flesh. The scent of wet wood and decaying leaves came over her, the natural perfume gave her strength and she ran farther. Rukia could hear everything: the birds, the wind, the river, and the calls of the animals that scattered as she let her plain kimono snag and snap small branches and as her feet crunched against the forest floor.

The sun had set and her body gave into exhaustion. The trees seemed to welcome her was she stumbled toward and large sakura tree, two of its roots had peeked above the dirt and created a small oval, just big enough for her. She settled down into the soft earth and sleep came quickly.

When she woke, a man was watching her. He was tall, with dark hair held back by two white clips, and white robes were flowing softly in the wind, covering him from head to toe. His deep eyes scared her, they were almost black and locked onto her gaze from the second she was awake. She pushed herself back, further into the roots of the tree.

"You have nothing to fear, Rukia. I will not harm you."

She lightly gasped at his statement. His words were simple and his voice was low and strong. He knew her name, how? She had never met him before, not that she could remember. She felt herself wanting to run, he was an intimidating man, and she could feel strength and confidence radiating from him. She knew she wouldn't get far, her body still sore and limp from running so far the day before.

"How do you know my name? And who are you?"

The man slowly approached her, she remained still. He sat a few feet from her in a lotus position, sitting slowly as to not sit on his robes in a way that would interfere with his perfect posture. Rukia sat up, but remained close to the tree, in the sakura's roots.

"My name is Byakuya Kuchiki, I am a god of the Divine Court. I know your name because I was once married to your elder sister, Hisana. Her dying wish was that I find you and bring you to Heaven, and have you live as a goddess."

Rukia looked down and thought about what Byakuya said. Words of her fellow villagers filled her mind.

She looks so much like Hisana did….

Those big blue eyes are just like your sister's….

You even have Hisana's hair….

She could believe this Byakuya person about her sister, but what else?

"Prove to me that you're a god."

Her voice was sharp and demanding, leaving no room for argument. Byakuya sighed and lifted his right hand.

A beautiful whirl of sakura petals swirled in the wind. The mass of pink petals gravitated towards Byakuya and then danced around him, the petals then danced around her as well. Rukia found herself in awe. She mouth slightly opened and her eyes wide as she watched the flower petals create silent music. They spun and leaped, they ducked and bounced across the ground and off the tree. They twirled around each other as the show went on.

"Is this proof enough?"

His voice cut through her trance and she nodded. The petals slowly returned to the tree they were borrowed from. Rukia was sad to watch them go, they probably wouldn't be able to dance again. Byakuya rose from his spot and closed the distance between them. He offered her the same hand that made the petals dance.

"Then come, Rukia."

(^^) (^^)

Byakuya was snapped out of his memory by his apprentice. The red haired man had his hand on Byakuya's shoulder. The god had never recalled that his apprentice ever had to touch him to wake him from meditation. The soul took his hand off the god and gulped, for he knew that the Kuchiki before him was on edge, he had been ever since Rukia had gone missing. Renji knew Byakuya treated Rukia like the daughter he and Hisana never had, and the god did well by his departed's wish and was the best brother he could be.

When she first came to Heaven, Rukia was nervous and a little scared, so Byakuya read her a story every night before bed and brushed her raven hair and put it up for her every morning. He made tea time for them whenever he could and he showered her with silk kimonos and plenty of stuffed animals, especially bunnies, as they were her favorite.

Renji also knew Rukia was the only being who Byakuya cared for. As long as Rukia was happy and safe, Byakuya's soul was at peace.

"Kuchiki-sama, we still can't find Rukia… but we found these."

Renji reported and handed over a pair of white sandals and a white silk kimono. Byakuya inspected the items and came to the same conclusion as the search party; the items belonged to Rukia.

It was winter; everyone knew Rukia loved snow and ice and the cold, but sandals and a summer kimono? The clothing choice baffled Byakuya and he set the items down. He returned to a meditating pose and asked his assistant where the items were found. Renji told him near the Sode No Shirayuki River and explained that they had spent hours searching that area, in and out of the water, but not even a foot print in the snow was found.

Demon…

The word kept coming back into the Byakuya's mind. A demon was the only plausible explanation; he would still feel Rukia's presence if she was in heaven, so she couldn't be with another god. She couldn't be in the mortal world, being a mortal herself, she lacked the ability to travel between worlds and all who possessed the ability hadn't made a trip to earth in a number of months, while Rukia had been missing for only two weeks. Her recently found attire was the final clue; the Sode No Shirayuki River was a portal that led to many places, even hell. If a demon had found the right path, it could easily pop into heaven, steal something or someone, and leave.

Why? Why would a demon want Rukia? And why return her attire after stealing her? To let me know she's alive? To let me know she's suffering?

Many thoughts and questions entered the god's mind. He had to make a plan, get his little sister home and away from the evil that took her. Byakuya stood and picked up Rukia's kimono and sandals. He would bring them to Komamura, his nose would surely be able to identify whatever trace of demon was left on the clothes. From that, Byakuya could find and kill the demon that dared swipe his pride away from him.

(^^) (^^)

Rukia woke to the feeling of fur all over her. Her eyes peeked open and red flooded her blurry vision. A few grunts left her throat as she pushed herself into a sitting position. She looked at the antique clock on the nightstand, 10:37.

Shit. I slept in again.

She brought her hands together and raised them over her head to stretch. A small grunt and a low moan came out and she let herself flop back down onto the furs. She had already slept in so what's the problem with a few more minutes to herself? Rukia sighed and rubbed her eyes.

Can this be home? I know my sister wants me to be with Nii-sama and stay under the Kuchiki name but… I like it here so much more. I can be me and… not some doll to be dressed and moved without will… Hisana, what should I do?

Her thoughts were interrupted as the large black doors opened. Rukia let her head turn towards them where her lover stood. He was tall, handsome, arrogant, and everything Rukia needed. They fought constantly, she loved it. It was the only way to release stress here without panicking others. This place was called Hell, but it was not anarchy and chaos. Hell was more of a prison in Rukia's point of view; the sinners who were damned to this place were punished and detained. There was a structure to it all and her lover, Ichigo Kurosaki, was in charge of it.

He swaggered over to the bed of lush furs and looked deep in her eyes. He knew, he always did. Even if she lied he would bagger her and eventually get the truth from her anyway.

"What's wrong?"

She broke the hard gaze they were sharing and rolled away from him. A sigh escaped her before she spoke.

"Just thinking… Nii-sama told me my sister's dying wish was to have me be made a goddess, but… I'm here, in a demon's bed. I just… feel conflicted."

She huffed. Ichigo sat on the bed near her and stroked her arm. Rukia was more of a physical person; she preferred to smack him to express her anger, she never said 'I love you' she would just run up to him and kiss him hard. She also felt more comforted by touch than by words.

He knew this would happen, they had been secretly meeting for months. Rukia wanted to wait to take it this far but her brother was starting to catch on. He would start following her or sending an escort with her every time she left the safety of the mansion they shared. In a panic, she asked if Ichigo would let her live with him. He couldn't say no, he was in love and hell needed a queen.

"Do you want to go back? You're still mortal, you can leave… if you want."

Rukia's eyes flew open when he said that. Go back? No.

She quickly turned to face him. His damned mask was still on. The one thing Rukia hated about this place was that mask. It hid Ichigo from her, and it was his shield, he let his title as the Demon King take over whenever he wore it. She reached up and ripped it from his face. His eyes were visible now, not the yellow and black ones that all feared, the beautiful amber ones she fell in love with.

As the mask left his face the expected shatter of the ceramic never came. Rukia watched as it evaporated the second she let it go. Now that it was gone, it was just him, them. She gripped the back of his neck and pulled him into her arms. She kissed him hard.

I'll never leave you.

I know, I just want you to be happy.

With you I am happy. I can't go back; someone has to keep you in line.

Ichigo chuckled, damn smart ass.

N/A; tell me what you think! Would love some comments and if you wanna be mean go ahead, just know I don't give a fuck! Imma write what I wanna write :P bye bye

-MissAbbeyAcedia